The Origins of Sailing

Archaeological studies of the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture ceramics show use of sailing boats
from the sixth millennium onwards. Excavations of the Ubaid period (c. 6000 -4300 BC) in
Mesopotamia provides direct evidence of sailing boats. Sails from ancient Egypt are depicted
around 3200 BCE, where reed boats sailed upstream against the River Nile's current.
Ancient Sumerians used square rigged sailing boats at about the same time, and it is believed
they established sea trading routes as far away as the Indus valley. The proto-Austronesian
words for sail, lay(r), and other rigging parts date to about 3000 BCE when this group began
their Pacific expansion. Greeks and Phoenicians began trading by ship by around 1,200 BCE.